Mixer



April 3, 1934. F. B. TOTMAN ET AL 1,953,279

MIXER Original Filed June 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN ToRs. Feajvzfi Jar 2w Lz'azv E M02215 ATTORNEY April 3, 1934. F. B. TOTMAN Er m.

MIXER Original Filed June 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. ff .5

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1934 FFIE MIXER Frank B. Totman an Angeles, Calif assignors' 322, Los Angeles, Calif.

11 Leon P. Morris, Lee

to George J. Kuhrts,

13 Claims.

Our invention relates to mixers, sometimes known as pug mills, particularly for mixing plastic materials, such as asphalt, and the like, for street construction, buildings, and the like.

The objects of our invention are; first, to provide a mixer of relatively large capacity and a mixer whereby relatively large charges or batches of plastic material may be mixed and discharged at very short intervals; second, to provide a mixer of this class whereby all formerly used discharge gates are eliminated, and whereby the contents of the mixing receptacle are easily, quickly and completely discharged from the receptacle after the same are mixed by turning the whole receptacle up side down; third, to provide a machine of this class in which the agitators or mixing paddles, for mixing the ingredients of the plastic material, are continuously operated both when the ingredients are mixed and when the mixed plastic material is discharged from the mixing receptacle; fourth, to provide a machine of this class in which the mixing operation is substantially continuous, the mixing continuing until the batch or mix is discharged, and only a very short interval of time being consumed for the return of the mixing receptacle to its original mixing position for receiving another charge of ingredients for a new mix; fifth, to provide a machine of this class in which the operation of the agitating or mixing means, and the dumping of the mixing receptacle, is efiected by novel unitary means; sixth, to provide a machine of this class in which the shaft for operating the agitating or mixing members extends through the supporting means of the receptacle at its axis of rotation so that the operation of the agitating or mixing members is not affected materially when the receptacle is rotated for dumping the contents thereof; seventh, to provide novel means for operatively connecting the receptacle with the drive means for the agitating or mixing members so that the receptacle may be easily, quickly and periodically dumped of its contents; eighth, to provide novel means for holding the receptacle in a charge receiving and mixing position, and novel means cooperating therewith for operatively connecting the receptacle to a drive means when the holding means is released, the holding means being adapted to function again when the receptacle is disconnected from said drive means; ninth, to provide a machine of this class in which the mixing receptacle is rotatably mounted on an axis passing substantially through its center of gravity so as to reduce to a minimum the power required for dumping its contents; tenth, to provide a novel mounting of the machine relative to a driveway so that the mixed contents of the mixing receptacle may be discharged directly into a waiting truck or other conveyance; eleventh, to provide a machine of this class which may be operated and controlled by a single operator positioned above, close to and in plain view of the mixer, mix conveyance, and the like; twelfth, to provide as a whole a novelly constructed machine of this class; and, thirteenth, to provide a machine of this class which is simple and. economical of construction proportionate to its functions, durable, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear hereinafter, our invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of our invention in its preferred embodiment, the operator supporting platform being shown fragmentarily; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational View thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view thereof taken at 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the mixing receptacle; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view thereof taken through 5-5 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 6 is a partial sectional and partial elevational view thereof, the sectional portion being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The embodiment of our invention, as illustrated in the drawings, is in a permanent or stationary mixing plant; but, it will be understood that our mixer is not limited to such use. As shown in the drawings, the main and operating portion of the machine is supported at its opposite ends on pedestals 1 and 2. These pedestals are mounted on the upper ends of suitable foundations 3 and i which are positioned at the opposite sides of and contiguous to a drive or runway 5, on or through which trucks or other conveyances 6 may pass. These trucks or other conveyances pass immediately under the mixing receptacle and remain underneath the receptacle until the same are charged with the desired load.

The mixing receptacle R, which is positioned directly above the runway, is preferably mounted on a frame which, as shown, consists of end head members 7 and 8 which are supported and secured relative to each other at the upper portions of their lateral sides by longitudinal supports 9, shown here as structural channels. Between the head members '7 and 8 is a receptacle member 10 which is substantially of the same cross section transversely as the lower portions of the head members. This receptacle member is here shown as secured to the upper portions of its opposite sides to the lower face of the support 9. To the upper faces of the supports 9 and the upper edges of the adjacent walls of the head members is secured a rectangular frame 11 which serves as a spout and vertical extension of the mixing chamber of the mixing receptacle.

At the ends of the frame and at the end walls of the head members 7 and 8, are provided large trunnions 12 and 13, the axes of which are in alignment and extend approximately through the center of gravity of the receptacle together with its supporting frame. These trunnions are revolubly mounted on journals 14 and 15 which are respectively supported on the pedestals 1 and 2. The end of the trunnion 12 opposite the head member 7 is provided with a drive means in the form of a clutch disc 16 which is adapted to be shifted into engagement with and to be driven by another clutch disc 17 mounted on the drive shaft 18.

Extending longitudinally through the mixing receptacle R, are a pair of mixing paddle supporting shafts 21 and 22. These shafts are positioned parallel 'to each other at the opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the receptacle. The end portions of these shafts extend through the end walls of the receptacle and are revolubly mounted in journals 23 which are supported on the head members 7 and 8. These head members are in the form of receptacles at the opposite ends of the mixing receptacle and support the journals 23 therein adjacent the walls nearest the receptacle E.

On these shafts 21 and 22, which may be of rectangular cross section within the receptacle R, as shown in Fig. 5, are mounted in spaced relation a plurality of agitating, mixing, or paddle members 24. These members 24, as shown, consist of angularly positioned blades or plates 24a which are secured in any suitable manner to the ends of arms 241) which are secured in any suitable manner to the shafts 21 and 22. As shown in the drawings, the paddle members are arranged in pairs and diametrically opposed, the paddle members of the adjacent pairs being positioned in staggered relation to each other. The paddle members on the shaft 21 are also positioned in staggered relation to those on the shaft 22, that is, the paddle members of each shaft are never directly opposed to those of the paddle members on the other shaft.

One of these shafts, namely, shaft 21, is driven from the main drive shaft 18 by gears 31 and 32 secured respectively to the shaft 21 and the drive shaft 18, said gears being positioned within the head member 7. The opposite ends of the shafts 21 and 22, that is, the ends extending into the head member 8, are operatively connected by gears 33 and 34 positioned within the head member 8 and secured to the last mentioned ends of the shafts 21 and 22.

The drive shaft 18 is revolubly mounted in the trunnion 12 at the axial portion of the latter and is also revolubly mounted at its outer end on a journal 41 which is mounted on the pedestal 1.

' On the end of the shaft 18 extending beyond the journal 41, is provided any suitable drive means, such as a pulley 42. The clutch disc 1'7 mentioned above is secured to the drive shaft 18 between the clutch disc 16 and the journal 41 and is adapted to rotate the clutch disc 16 when the latter is shifted into engagement therewith for rotating the receptacle about its pivotal axis.

Above and to one side of the mixing receptacle R, is provided a platform or grating 51 which is supported on a suitable frame 52. On this platform, the operator of the machine is positioned within plain view of the receptacle and the conveyances' passing underneath. Extending through this platform from underneath and above the same are a foot pedal 53 and a lever 54, the former being adapted to control the shifting of the clutch disc 16.

The foot pedal 53 is guided vertically on the frame 52 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the one arm 55a of the bellcrank lever 55. This bellcrank lever is pivotally mounted on a vertical member 52a of the frame 52. The other arm 55?) of the bell crank lever 55 extends downwardly and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the free end of the clutch shifting lever 56 which is pivotally connected at its opposite end to a support lot on the pedestal. Intermediate the ends of the clutch shifting lever, is an elongated locp portion 5664 which straddles the hub portion of the clutch disc 16, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 6. In the opposite portions of the loop portion 56a are provided rollers 57 which extend inwardly and ride in an annular channel 16a in the hub of the clutch member 16. As the foot pedal 53 is depressed, the clutch shifting lever is shifted clockwise about its pivotal axis causing the clutch discs to be engaged, imparting the rotary motion of the disc 17 to the disc 16 and to the mixing receptacle. At the end of the arm 55a is provided a spring 58 which is connected to the frame 52 for disconnecting the clutch discs when the foot pedal 53 is released.

In order to prevent the tendency of the mixing receptacle to rotate when the material within the receptacle is being mixed, and also to check the rotation thereof after the same is set in motion for discharging the contents thereof and for returning the same to its original position, we have provided a brake drum 61 on the trunnion 12. Around this brake drum is extended a contractible brake band 62. The opposite ends of this brake band are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of a link 63 which link is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a journal 1b mounted on the pedestal 1 to one side of the brake drum. As the link 63 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, from the position shown in Fig. 3, both ends of the brake band are contracted checking the movement or rotation of the brake drum. The shifting of the link 63 is effected by a brake lever 64 which is in the form of a bell crank pivotally mounted on the support 52a. One arm of the lever extends above the grating 51 through a slot therein and the other arm extends towards the machine. The latter arm is pivotally connected by a link 65 to the outer end of the link 63 to which the lower portion of the brake band is connected. Above the grating 51 and mounted thereon, is a quadrant 66 which is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 67 mounted on the lever 64 and controlled by a hand grip 68 near the hand grip of the brake control lever. As the brake control lever is pulled backwardly, the brake band is tightened and the pawl 67 holds the lever 64 and the brake band in their respective braking positions.

The operation of our mixer is briefly as follows:

When charging the mixer with the ingredients to be mixed, the lever 64 is in its backward position holding the receptacle R in an upright position, that is, with its opening extended upwardly. The shaft 18 is continuously rotated, thus rotating the agitating or mixing members within the receptacle continuously. The required ingredients in their proper proportions are discharged into the receptacle B through the opening at the upper side. When the ingredients are mixed sufficiently, which requires only a short period of time, the lever 64 is released and the foot pedal 53 is depressed. The receptacle will then be rotated and as soon as the opening is directed downwardly, the contents of the receptacle will be discharged into the waiting conveyance below. The receptacle will continue to rotate until the foot pedal is released and the brake applied by again pulling the lever 64 backwardly. The latter operation when the receptacle has been returned to its original position, that is, with the opening directed upwardly.

It will be here noted that most of the wear in a machine of this class is on the inside, or inner wall of the bottom and side walls of the mixing receptacle. In mixers of this class made heretofore, the bottom and side wall members were sometimes made removable so that the worn parts could be replaced, but such removal of the above mentioned worn parts necessitated dismantling the greater portion of the mixer. In the mixer shown, we have made the receptacle member 10, which forms only the bottom and lower portions of the side walls of the mixer, removable in such a manner that, by merely removing a plurality of bolts, this member 10 could be removed without disturbing any other portion of the machine, the removal being merely from the lower side, or by dropping the same below the frame supporting the receptacle. In addition to the securing of the upper portions of the side walls of the member 10 to the structural channel 9, the portions near the ends of this member are secured by'a plurality of bolts to ledges, indicated by 7a in Fig. 6, said ledges forming integral parts with the head members 7 and 8. Therefore, to replace the receptacle 10, it is necessary only to remove the bolts above mentioned which will permit the member 10 to be lowered and another to be secured in position.

Though we have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, we do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of our-invention, the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. In a machine of the class described, a completely rotatable receptacle having a continuously open filling and discharge opening at its normally upper side, agitators mounted therein and movable relative to said receptacle, means for operating said agitators, and means for periodically operatively connecting said receptacle to said last mentioned means for periodically completely rotating said receptacle, by the latter means, about its axis for dumping its contents 1 through said opening.

2. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable receptacle, agitators mounted therefn andmovable relative to said receptacle, means for operating said agitators, means for periodically operatively connecting said receptacle to said last mentioned means for periodically rotating said receptacle, and means for positively checking the rotation of said receptacle.

3. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable receptacle, agitators mounted therein and movable relative to said receptacle, means for operating said agitators, means for rotating said receptacle intermittently, and means for positively checking the rotating of said receptacle.

l. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle having trunnions at its opposite sides, journals 'for rotatably supporting said trunnions, a series of paddles rotatably mounted within said receptacle, a shaft revolubly mounted within and co-axially with one of said trunnio-ns for rotating said paddles, means for driving said shaft, and means for op-eratively connecting the trunnion, through which said shaft extends, with said shaft.

5. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle having trunnions at its opposite sides, journals for rotatably supporting said trunnions, a series of paddles rotatable mounted within said receptacle, a shaft revolubly mounted within and co-axially with one of said trunnions for rotating said paddles, means for driving said shaft, means for operatively connecting the trunnion, through which said shaft extends, with said shaft, and means for checking the rotation of said receptacle.

6. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle having trunnions at its opposite sides, journals for rotatably supporting said trunnions, a series of paddles rotatably mounted within said receptacle, a shaft revolubly mounted within and co-axially with one of said trunnions for rotating said paddles, means for driving said shaft, means for operatively connecting the trunnion, through which said shaft extends, with said shaft, clutch members on said shaft and the trunnion through which the shaft extends, and means for shifting the clutch member on the trunnion into engagement with the other clutch member.

Z. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle having trunnions at its opposite sides, journals for rotatably supporting said trunnions, a series of paddles rotatably mounted within said receptacle, a shaft revolubly mounted within and co-axially with one of trunnions for rotating said paddles, means for driving said shaft, means for operatively connecting the trunnion, through which said shaft extends, with said shaft, clutch members on said shaft and the trunnlon through which the shaft extends, means for shifting the clutch member on the trunnion into engagement with the other clutch member, a brake means in connection with said receptacle for checking the rotation thereof and for holding the same against rotation when said clutch members are disengaged.

8. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle having trunnions at its opposite ends, journals for rotatably supporting said trunnions, a pair of paddle supporting shafts revolubly mounted within the receptacle parallel to its axis of rotation and at the opposite sides thereof, and means operatively connecting said shafts, and unitary means for revolving said shafts and said trunnions.

9. In a machine of the class described, a re- 150 SUI ceptacle having trunnions at its opposite ends, journals for rotatably supporting said trunnions, a pair of paddle supporting shafts revolubly mounted within the receptacle parallel to its axis of rotation and at the opposite sides thereof, a drive shaft co-axial with said trunnions and extending through-one of the same, means operatively connecting said paddle supporting shafts to said drive shaft, means for revolving said drive shaft, and clutch means adapted operatively to connect the trunnion through which said drive shaft extends to said drive shaft.

10. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle having trunnions at its opposite ends, journals for rotatably supporting said trunnions, a pair of paddle supporting shafts revolubly mounted within the receptacle parallel to its axis of rotation and at the opposite sides thereof, a drive shaft co-axial with said trunnions and extending through one of the same, means for periodically operatively connecting said paddle supporting shafts to said drive shaft, and means for revolving said drive shaft.

11. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle open at its normally upper side and provided with trunnions at its opposite sides, agitators movably mounted within the receptacle means for operating said agitators, and

means for rotating said receptacle one complete revolution about its trunnions for discharging the contents of the receptacle when the opening thereof is directed downwardly.

12. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle having pivotal supporting means at its opposite sides and a filling and discharge opening at its upper side, the pivotal axis of said receptacle extending approximately through its center of gravity, agitators rotatably mounted within the receptacle, means for operating said agitators, and means for rotating said receptacle about its pivotal axis for discharging the contents of said receptacle when the same is rotated and the opening therein directed downwardly.

13. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle having trunnions at opposite sides upon which said receptacle is mounted, agitators mounted within the receptacle, a drive shaft 00- axial with the trunnions and operatively connected to the agitators, and means coaxial with the shaft for directly operatively connecting the shaft to the receptacle for periodically turning the receptacle up side down.

FRANK B. TOTMAN. LEON P. MORRIS. 

